Stamp-affixing machine.



J. F. RALEIGH.

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 17, 1912.

1,052,691 Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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J. F. RALEIGH.`

STAMP APFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 11:13.17. 1912.

1,052,691. l Patented Feb. 11,1913.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPM co.,wAsmNG1'oN D.. c

J. P. RALEIGH.

STAMP APHXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, 1912.

1,052,691. Y Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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J. F. RALEIGH.

STAMP APFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 213.17, 1912. Y

y Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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COLUMBIA PLANOIJRAPH C0., vlAsHlNaraN. D. c.

TINTTFD STATES vFATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. RALEIGH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD TO RICHARDABRAM AND ONE-THIRD TO WILLIAM FURLONG, BOTH 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STAMP-AFFIXING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

Application filed February 17, 1912. Serial No. 678,331.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. RALEIGH, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStamp-Aiiixing Machines, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to improvements in stamp aiiixing machines, andmore particularly to a machine for applying postage stamps to envelops,cards, or other mail matter, the object of the invention being theproduction of a machine of this character which will be of simpleconstruction and which will be efficient in operation.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

lith these objects in view, my invention consists in the combinationsand arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 isa side elevation of a stamp aiiixing machine embodying my invention,Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating the relativeposition of one of the cam rollers upon the operating plunger and thecam coperating therewith, Fig. 3 is a substantially central verticallongitudinal section of the machine, Fig. l is a front elevation of themachine, the stamp receptacle being shown in section, Fig. 5 is a detailof the operating plunger detached, the lower end of said plunger beingshown in section, Fig. 6 is a section taken on line m @c of Fig. 5, Fig.7 is a horizontal section taken on substantially line y jz/ of Fig. 1,Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of wiper which may be used ifdesired, and Fig. 9 is a section taken on line e' z of Fig. 8.

The preferred form of construction, as illustrated in the drawings,comprises a base 1 which is rectangular in outline and comparativelyflat, the same being hollow in order to constitute a fluidreservoir forthe machine. A filling cup 2 of ordinary construction is provided, bymeans of which the moistening iuid may be poured into the reservoir, ascrew plug stopper 3 being provided for closing said cup. An air vent 4is provided to be open during the filling of the reservoir.

Extending upwardly from the base 1 is a standard or frame 5 in which ismounted for reciprocatory movement a plunger 6 which is provided at itsupper end with a head 7 Surrounding the upper end of the plunger 6 andinterposed between the head 7 and the upper end of the standard or frame5, is a helical compression spring 8 whichis adapted normally to returnsaid plunger to its elevated position or to its upper terminal ofmovement, when released from depressed position. In order to prevent theplunger 6 from rotating in its bearing, the saine is provided withlaterally projecting arms 9 upon which are provided suitable rollers 9,the latter alleviating friction, as will be understood from thefollowing. The rollers 9 engage against rods 10 which are mounted in theupper end of the frame 5 at opposite sidesv of said plunger, ears 10eing provided in which the respective extremities of said rods aresecured. With this arrangement it will be seen that upon operation ofthe plunger, the rollers 9 will travel upon the rods 10 to preventrelative rotary movement of said plunger, the provision of said rollers,whereby the friction is alleviated, as above mentioned, conducing tofree and easy operation of the plunger.

Arranged at the lower end of the plunger 6 is a stamp receptacle 11which is of substantially rectangular form, preferably tapering slightlytoward its lower end. Said receptacle is connected with the plunger 6through the medium of a plate 12 which is slidably mounted upon saidplunger. The member 12 is provided with a central hub 13 which isadapted to slide vertically over the lower end of the plunger, thelatter being provided with a flat portion 14, and the opening in saidhub being correspondingly formed to fit said flat portion, thus forminga spline connection between the member 12 and said plunger, whichprevents. relative rotation of said parts. An enlargement 15 and a feltpad 15 are provided at the lower end of said plunger for abutting thestamps 16 which are arranged thereunder in the stamp receptacle. Thestamp receptacle is detachably secured to the member 19. thro-ugh themedium of outwardly projecting pins 17 and 18 provided at opposite edgesof said member 12 and which engage corresponding perforations in theadjacent sides of the receptacle close to the upper edge thereof, aresilient portion 19 being provided at one side of said receptacle inorder to permit of the projection 18 entering the corresponding openingor to permit of the release of said projection when detachment of thereceptacle is desired. The portion 19 is projected upwardly, as shown,to constitute a finger piece whereby the same may be readily sprungoutwardly in effecting disengagement thereof from the projection 18. Thestamps in the receptacle 11 are normally held in the position shown bymeans of short inwardly projecting teeth 20 which engage under the edgesof the lower stamp. Interposed between .the lower portion of the frame 5and the hub 13 is a helical compression spring 21 which serves tomaintain the member 12 in normal engagement with the enlargement 15, asclearly shown in Fig. 1.

In order to provide stamps for the stamp receptacle 11, a stamp cutteris provided which is adapted to sever several stamps at a time, whensheets of stamps are properly positioned therein. lThe stamp cuttercomprises a `vertical reciprocatory plunger 22 having a head 22 at itsupper' extremity. Surrounding the plunger 22 is a helical compressionspring 23 interposed between the upper end of the housing 24 of thecutter and the head 22, said spring being adapted to return said plunger22 to its normal elevated position after depression. Carried at thelower end of the plunger 22 is a cutter 25 which is simply asubstantially rectangular block which is slidably mounted in acorrespondingly formed opening 26 provided in said housing 24. Screwedto the housing 24 is an L-shaped cutter 27, the upper edges thereofbeing beveled for coperation with the adjacent cutting edges of thecutter 25. The cutting edges of the cutter 25 are inclined downwardlytoward the point 28 so that in operation, the initial cutting will takeplace at this point, which will be followed by a shearing cut due to theinclination of said edges. In operation, the receptacle 11 is arrangedin the o-pening 29 which is formed for the reception thereof below thecutter 27 so as to receive the stamps which will drop thereinto as thesame are severed, as above described. Ejection of the receptacle fromthe opening 29 after the same has been supplied with stamps, is effectedthrough the medium of an ejector 30 which is carried by a leaf spring31, as shown in Fig. 7, the inner end of said ejector passing through anopening 32 provided for the reception thereof in the wall of the opening29 opposite the mouth of the latter. vThe spring 31 is adapted to holdthe member 30 normally in inoperative postamps during the severingoperation of the stamps, an upwardly projecting flange 35 provided atone side of the table 33 in registration with one side of the cutter`opening 26, serving as a gaging means for properly positioning thestamps for severance when the plunger 22 is depressed. Two sides of thehousing 24 coplanar with the table 33 are cut away at 36 in order topermit of the insertion of the stamps.

Preparatory to the application of a stamp to an envelop, it is requiredto moisten the surface of the latter to which the stamp is to beapplied. The mechanism for effecting this moistening comprises a pair oflevers 37 which are pivotally secured at their upper ends to the frameor standard 5 by means of screws 38. At the lower ends of the levers 37is carried a wiper or moistener which comprises a pair of arms 39correspo-nding ends of which are pivotally secured to the lower ends ofthe levers 37 by means of trunnions 40 which project from the arms 39and which engage perforations provided for the reception thereof in saidends of said levers. Carried at the opposite ends of the arms 39 is atransversely eXtending roller 41 preferably covered with a resilient orabsorbent covering, such as rubber. The roller 41 is adapted, with theleg vers 37 in their normal positions, to contact with the upper ends ofa wick 42 which is arranged in the reservoir 1, the upper end of saidwick projecting through an opening 42 formed in the upper side of saidreservoir. The roller 41 is adapted to carry the moistening fluid fromthe upper end of the wick so as to meisten the surface with which thesame is brought into contact, as hereinafter mentioned. Distributingrollers 43 are preferably provided above the roller 41 for distributingthe liquid uniformly over the surface of the roller 41 during rotationof the latter. Projecting laterally from the free ends of the arms 39above the roller 41 are studs 44 which slidably engage curved slots 45formed in the plates 46 secured upon the upper side of the basemember 1. The slots 45 are of such formation that, upon outward tiltingof the lower ends of the levers 37, the free ends of the arms 39 andhence the wiping roller 41 will be first elevated and then moveddownwardly, the arrangement being such that during this operation thewiping roller will be moved from contact with the moistening wick 42 andwill not be moved downwardly for contact with the envelop or mail matterwhich is positioned on the base member 1, until said roller is directlyover the portion of the envelop to which it is desired to affix thestamp, when said roller will move horizon tally upon said surface toeffect the moistening thereof. lVire springs 47 are provided at theouter extremities of the plates 46 which are positioned for engagementwith the studs 44 in order to force the moistening roller into closeengagement with the surface engaged thereby. The free or operative endsof the springs 47 are inclined, as clearly shown in the several views,the inclination being such as to tend to force the studs 44, whenengaging the latter, toward inoperative position, there being a sort ofscissors action, this arrangement serving to facilitate the return ofthe wiper to inoperative position, as hereinafter described. The outerends of the plates 46 are cut away at 48 in order to afford clearancefor the envelop in positioning the same directly unt-.er the stampreceptacle.

lf desired, a wiper of a construction as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, may beemployed. The moistener there shown'is generally of the sameconstruction as the wiper above described, the modification being in theprovision of a transverselv extending plate 41 which extends between thefree ends of the arms 39 to the under side of which is secured a felttongue 41, the latter being adapted to engage the 4upper end of themoistening wick 42, in the same manner as the moistening roller 41 abovedescribed.

lOscillationrof the levers 37 in order to eect the drawing of the wiperacross the envelop, as before mentioned, is secured through theprovision of arms 49 which are pivotally secured to the standard 5 bythe screws 38. vThe arms 49 are formed at their inner sides withinwardly projecting cams 50 which are disposed in the path of therollers 9 which are carried by the laterally projecting arms or studs.1.) of the plunger 6. The cam members 50, as Clearly shown in Fig. 2,are so constructed that, upon depression of the plunger 6, the vertices51 of .said cams will be positioned in non-alinement with the plane ofmovement of the axes of said rollers, and so that upon contact of saidrollers with said cams, the former will ride upon the surfaces 52 ofsaid cams and effect downward swinging of the free ends of the arms 49.rlhe lower vertices 53 of the cams 50 are so positioned that, uponreturn movement of the plunger, the rollers 9 will ride upon theopposite surfaces 52 of said cams, the arms 52 being permitted to swingupwardly in this operation to permit of the passage of said rollers. Thefree extremities of the arms 49 are formed with inwardly projectingfingers 54 which engage shoulders 55 formed at the upperextremr ties ofthe levers 37 soV that, upon downward swinging of the free ends of thearms 49, as above mentioned, when the plunger 6 is depressed, the levers37 will be rocked outwardly in order to draw the wiper carried therebyto operative position or to the dotted line position as shown in Fig. 1.Wire torsional springs 56 are provided in order to return the arms 49 tonormal position engaging the shoulders 55 of the levers 37 after saidarms have been rocked upwardly by reason of contact of the rollers 9with the cams 50 during return movement of the plunger 6. The ends 56 ofthe springs 56 are fixed to the upper ends of the levers 37, theopposite or free ends of said springs engaging over the free ends of thearms 49, as shown. In order to maintain the levers 37 in proper relativeposition, a U-shaped bridge 37 is provided which extends from one ofsaid levers to the other, the central portion of said bridge beingadapted to contact with a boss 37 depending fromV the lower end of thehead of the standard 5 for limiting the throw of said levers. The returnof said levers to normal position is effected by the rollers 9 which areadapted to contact with the outer edges of said levers, after passingthe recessed or inwardly curved portions of the front edges of saidlevers at the upper extremities thereof, the return of said leversoccurring almost instantaneously upon the contacting of said rollerswith the portions 57 of the front edges of said levers. Vith thisconstruction it will be seen that a quick action of the levers 37 issecured upon depression of the plunger 6, the outward swinging of saidlevers and also the return thereof taking place during thedownwardmovement of said plunger.

rlhe mechanism is locked against operation by means of locking members58 which are secured at the respective extremities of an oscillatoryshaft 58. Curved upwardly projecting fingers 59 of the members 58 areadapted to engage over the outwardly projecting ends of the studs 44 soas to prevent movement thereof in the slots 45, this locking of thestuds 44 resulting in the locking of the entire mechanism, as will bereadily understood. Swinging of the members 58 to locking position iseffected by a finger piece 60 which is formed upon one of said members58, stops 61 and 62 being provided upon one of said members for limitingthe oscil- `latory mo-vement of said members in both directions, as willbe readily understood. Said members 58 are normally held in inoperativeposition by means of a leaf spring 63 which is adapted to engage againsta flat side 64 formed upon one side of the shaft 58, as shown in Fig. 3,the arrangement being such, however, that when the members 58 are inlooking position, the shaft 58 will be oscillated to such an extent thatthe flattened portion 64 will not be engaged by the spring 68 and sothat in this position, said spring will serve merely as a means ofapplying friction to the shaft and hence to hold the same in thisposition. The base portion of the cutter housing 24 is formed inopposite walls with alining openings 65 which permit of the passage of ascrew-driver in engaging the screw 63 which secures the spring 63.

Mounted upon the front side of the standard 5 is a registering device 66of any ordinary or preferred design. The operating lever 67 of theregister 66 is operatively connected by means of a link 68 with one ofthe levers 37 and so that, during operation of the device, eachoscillation of the levers 37 and hence each application of a stamp willbe registered.

In the operation of the machine, it is only required to insert the mailmatter under the forward ends of the Aarms 46. Upon the depression ofthe plunger 6, the wiper will first be moved forwardly to effect themoistening of the surface of the envelop to which it is desired to applythe stamp. The wiper will be returned instantly, whereupon the stampreceptacle 11 will be forced downwardly into engagement with themoistened surface. After engagement of the lower end of the receptaclewith the envelop, 'the plunger will continue to move downwardly untilthe pad l5 carried thereby contacts with the upper end of the stack ofstamps arranged in the receptacle. The forcible engagement of this padwith the stack of stamps will serve to press the lowermost of the latteragainst the moistened surface of the envelop. The stamps being arrangedwith their gummed surfaces downward, upon contact thereof with themoistened surface of the envelop, as just mentioned, the stamp will beautomatically withdrawn from the receptacle, upon the return of thelatter to elevated position, by reason of the adherence of said stamp tothe envelop.

With this machine, stamps may be affixed with great expedition, time andlabor being saved.

When the supply of stamps in the receptacle has been exhausted, the samemay be readily replenished through operation of the stamp cuttingmechanism.

The construction set forth is positive in its operation, the same isdurable and economical, and is of high efficiency in operation.

IVhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvent-ion.

I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variationsand modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. In a stamp aflixing machine, a fluid reservoir; a frame connectedwith and rising from said reservoir; a plunger reciprocally mounted insaid frame; a stamp receptacle carried at the lower end of said plunger;cam rollers ournaled on said plunger; an oscillatory liquid conveyingmember pivoted on said frame; shoulders on said oscillatory liquidconveying member; bell crank levers pivoted on said frame and eachhaving an arm resiliently engaging one of said shoulders; cams on theother arms of each of said bell crank levers, said cams being sopositioned that they will be entirely compassed by said cam rollers uponreciprocation of such plunger, substantially as described.

2. In a stamp afliXing machine, a fluid reservoir; a frame connectedwith and rising from said reservoir; a plunger reciprocally mounted insaid frame; a stamp receptacle carried at the lower end of said plunger;two cam rollers journaled on said plunger in diametrically oppositepositions thereon; an oscillatory liquid conveying member pivoted onsaid frame; shoulders on said oscillatory liquid conveying member; bellcrank levers pivoted on said frame and each having one of its armsengaging one of said shoulders; springs resiliently maintaining saidarms normally against said shoulders; a cam on the other arm of each ofsaid crank levers, said cams being disposed on said arms in a manner tobe compassed by their engaging cam rollers upon reciprocation of saidplunger, substantially as described.

3. In a stamp` afliXing machine, a Huid reservoir; a frame connectedwith and rising from said reservoir; a plunger reciprocally mounted insaid frame; a stamp receptacle carried at the lower end of said plungerand designed to release stamps from the bottom thereof; means operableby said plunger for transferring Huid contained in said reservoir to thestamp surface of mail matter positioned upon the upper side of saidreservoir below said plunger, said last mentioned means comprisingdepending oscillatory levers secured to said frame and adapted whenoscillated to eect the transfer of fluidvfrom said reservoir to thestamp surface of the mail matter; laterally projecting arms on saidplunger; cams adapted for engagement by said arms for effectingoscillation of said levers in one direction, direct engagement of saidarms with said levers effecting return oscillation of the latter upondepression of said plunger; and

stationary guide surfaces slidably engaged by said arms for preventingrelative rotation of said plunger, substantially as described.

4. In a stamp ailixing machine, a horizontal fluid reservoir; a frameconnected with and rising from said reservoir; a ver tically disposedplunger reciprocally mount ed in said frame; a stamp receptacle carriedat the lower end of said plunger and designed to release stamps from thebottom thereof; means operable by said plunger for transferring fluidcontained in said reservoir to the stamp surface of mail matter lpositioned upon the upper side of said reservoir below said plunger,said last mentioned means comprising depending oscillatory leverssecured to said frame and adapted to be oscillated upon depression ofsaid plunger; a wiper carried at the lower end of said levers; means forconveying fluid contained in said reservoir to said wiper when thelatter is in normal position; trunnions projecting from said wiper andengaging tortuous guide slots so that upon oscillation of said leverssaid wiper will be guided first upwardly and then downwardly intocontact with the mail matter positioned upon the upper side of saidreservoir; and spring arms cooperating with said trunnions for forcingsaid wiper into close engagement with the mail matter and for aiding thereturn movement of said wiper, substantially as described.

5. In a stamp aii'ixing machine, a horizontal fluid reservoir; a frameconnected with and rising from said reservoir; a ver- 40 ticallydisposed plunger reciprocally mounted in said frame; a stamp receptaclecarried at the lower end of said plunger and designed to release stampsfrom the bottom thereof; means operable by said plunger for transferringfluid contained in said reservoir to the stamp surface of mail matterpositioned upon the upper side of said reservo-ir below said plunger,said last mentioned means comprising depending oscillatory leverssecured to said frame and adapted to be oscillated upon depression ofsaid plunger; a wiper carried at the lower end of said levers; means forconveying fluid contained in said reservoir to said wiper when thelatter is in normal position; trunnions projecting from said wiper andengaging tortuous guide slots so that upon oscillation of said leverssaid wiper will be guided first upwardly and then downwardly intocontact with the mail matter positioned upon the upper side of saidreservoir; and spring arms engaging the upper sides of said trunnionsfor forcing said wiper into close engagement with the mail matter, saidspring arms being so disposed as to be adapted to facilitate the returnmovement of said wrapper, substantially as described.

6. In a stamp aliiXing machine, a horiferring fluid contained in saidreservoir to' the stamp surface of mail matter positioned upon the upperside of said reservoir below said plunger, said last mentioned meanscomprising depending oscillatory levers secured to said frame andadapted to be oscillated upon depression of said plunger; a wipercarried at the lower end of said levers; means for conveying fluidcontained in said reservoir to said wiper when the latter is in normalposition; mea-ns adapted upon oscillation of said levers to guide saidwiper first upwardly and then downwardly into contact with the mailmatter positioned upon the upper side of said reservoir; and meansadapted for engagement with said wiper for locking the mechanism againstoperation, substantially as described.

7. In a stamp affixing machine, a hori Zontal fluid reservoir; a frameconnected with andrising from said reservoir; a vertically disposedplunger reciprocally mounted in said frame; a stamp receptacle carriedat the lower end of said plunger and designed to release stamps from thebottom thereof; means operable by said plunger fo-r transferring [luidcontained in said reservoir to the stamp surface of mail matterpositioned upon the upper side of said reservoir below said plunger,said last mentioned means comprising depending oscillatory leverssecured to said frame and adapted to be oscillated upon depression ofsaid plunger; a wiper carried at the lower end of said levers; means forconveying fluid contained in said reservoir to said wiper when thelatter is in normal position; trunnions projecting from said wiper andengaging tortuous guide slots so that upon oscillation of said leverssaid wiper will be guided first upwardly and then downwardly intocontact with the mail matter positioned upon the upper side of saidreservoir; and means adapted for engagement with said trunnions forlocking the mechanism against operation, substantially as described.

8. In a stamp aiiiXing machine, a horizontal fluid reservoir; a frameconnected with and rising from said reservoir; a vertically disposedplunger reciprocally mounted in said frame; a stamp receptacle carriedat the other end of said plunger and designed to release stamps from thebottom thereof; means operable by said plunger for transferring fluidcontained in said reservoir to the stamp surface of mail matterpositioned upon the upper side of said reservoir below said plunger,said last mentioned means comprising depending oscillatory leverssecured to said frame and adapted to be osoillated upon depression ofsaid plunger; a wiper carried at the lower end of said levers; means forconveying fluid contained in said reservoir to said wiper when thelatter is in normal position;

trunnions projecting from said wiper and engaging tortuous guide slotsso that upon oscillation of said levers said wiper will be guided firstupwardly and then downwardly into Contact with the mail matterpositioned upon the upper side of said reservoir; and oscillatory meansadapted Jfor engagement with said trunnions for locking the mechanismagainst operation, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES F. RALEIGH.

l/Vitnesses:

Y JOSHUA R. I-I. Po'r'rs,

ARTHUR A. OLSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Yatents, Washington, D. C.

